I stayed at this hotel for one night only, and that was enough. I had booked 2 nights at the Comfort Suites down the street but had gotten in one day early. The Comfort Suites didn't have a room for me but suggested the Clarion. Oh My God. The first room they put me in, 518, was supposed to be an upgraded room. Why? because of the old microwave and old fridge? The room was old, old, old. Dirty walls, filthy-filthy carpet, smelled like an old damp basement, mildewy, furniture was stained and worn. It was supposed to have DSL, but did not. I called the desk and told them about my complaints and was switched to 416, another upgraded room. Hah! Exacatly like the one upstairs only this one had DSL...problem was it didn't work. It is now 10:30 pm and I am tired. I have the air on as high as it goes to dilute the stench. I am wary of bed linen in even the nicest hotels, so here I slept in sweat pants, socks and sweatshirt with hood up to avoid having to use blankets. The next morning I called the desk at the Comfort to see if my reserved room could be ready early and to tell the management about referring people to this hotel. I went over and viewed a room that was much, much better than the Clarions. Still, it wasn't what I needed after the nightmare before. I took a drive over to Lake Buena Vista and looked at a Spring Hills Suite by Marriott. I knew I was home. Excellent.
Now I am looking for an extended stay facility for the next 2 weeks until my aparment is ready and after reading the positive reviews on this place I don't know what to believe. Are peoples standards really that low?

This hotel is close to all amenities, cheap gift shops and even McDonalds. It also offers shuttle services to all universal studios, disney and seaworld and outlet mall shopping.

But the janitorial services are terrible. They don't clean out my garbage, and they gave me dirty, stained and ripped towels. The fan doesnt even work in the washroom, so when one goes poo poo the whole room stinks, and the worse thing is that you can't open the windows...cause a sign on the window says youre not allowed....the window is for viewing only. Thus you know how we would feel when one goes to the washroom. Henceforth the room has that wet humidty smell everytime we walk in, when asks front desk about the fan, they say its working. They didn't even bother to come in to the room to check, i guess they don't like the smell of our poo poo too....neither did we of course. Other than that everything was ok! I find the cleanest part of the hotel was the front desk, and the washrooms in the lobby.

Would i stay at the other clarion frachises again, such as comfort inn or travellodge....no...cause i don't like the smell of poo poo....and even though it maybe different at other locations...well...i'm not willing to try it again!

This hotel was much nicer than we expected. We paid about $55 a night, the room was clean and big, comfortable bed and pillows, yummy breakfast buffet was about $8, the pool was nice and heated. The hotel was clean and the staff was very nice. I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone and stay there again myself.

We did a **** load of research into our Orlando Hotel Choice as we had been saving hard for the trip and wanted the best we could afford. Having read many horror stories on this and other review sites about other hotels, we were recommended the Clarion by "Travel Counsellors". (always find us good accomm)

Being our first trip to Florida, we didn't know what to expect in the way of hotels but we were not disapointed, Cannot understand some of the other bad reviews, even some at same time we went. They must have been very unfortunate or very fussy! The room was very good size and always very clean. Bathroom ok (how long do you spend in it anyway!). Breakfasts admitedly basic but our kids loved them (aged 5 & 7). They also loved the pool and quite often wanted to come back to it after about 5 hours at the parks!

The staff were very helpful (although we never got told about the shortcut, shame!) and the pool bar lady very freindly. We arrived late at night having got lost on way from orlando international and the staff were very welcoming and helpful. (would always recommend getting taxi to hotel if landing after dark, and getting hire car sent to hotel in morning!)

As Orlando novices, we would say the location was ideal. Most of parks within 15 minutes drive (probably less with shortcut!) and there were plenty of good places to eat in the evening within walking/short drive distance away.

All in all, would thoroughly recommend the Clarion Maingate for anyone who wants a good value, clean hotel in Central orlando. Put it this way, we went onto a fantastic beachfront luxury apartment which cost 3 times the amount for 1 week, in Siesta Key on the Gulf for our second week (highly recommended after a week in fantastic but hectic Orlando!) and came back to Orlando to fly back on last day. We popped into the Clarion again and immediately felt comfortable and at home again! We will definately return one day.